A Beautiful Mind

Twelve might seem to most a little premature to be writing your bucket list, but not to Samyudha Rajesh. And, with the publication of her first book of poetry, she has already ticked off one of the items on that list which she believes most people write too late. Samyudha says, “I don’t want to rush!”

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A Year 8 student, Samyudha’s book “Mind’s Rainbow” is a collection of her poems touching on themes such as freedom, logic and inequality. Why poetry? Samyudha enthuses, “One word can do so many things.”

The passion for poetry all began in Samyudha’s Year 4 English class with Mr Lang who introduced the students to Dr Seus and the joy of rhyme. Encouraged by her mother to follow her dreams, and then reinforced by a focus on creative writing with her teacher Mr Gadsby in Year 6, Samyudha began to compile her own collection of poetry. Even a reality television programme played its part. Samyudha explains, “The Voice inspired me to follow the lyrical side of writing.” She continues, “I want to live in a more creative world where there’s no right or wrong. Some people say that’s easy, but it’s actually harder because there are no success criteria.”

The result, after several years of writing, was a body of work that, with the assistance of her mother, was published early in the summer and then launched at a surprise gathering of family and Shanghai friends in India.

Not one to let the grass grow under her feet, Samyudha also interned at a company in Pudong during the summer where she learnt to make a website. She then developed her own site called Forward, where individuals can let family and friends know about their achievements, but at the same time, challenge themselves to do more.

So, what are the other things on that bucket list? Swimming with a dolphin (also ticked off this past October holiday), sharing an idea in a TED Talk, and going to Harvard.

The final lines of Samyudha’s poem “Fact or a Fantasy?” give an insight into her drive to make these others happen:

“When you imagine… anything is reality
And what we see things as is what they shall be!”